Louisiana's Way Home

Two years after the events of Raymie Nightingale, Louisiana is awoken at three in the morning by her Granny--telling her that they must flee a curse that's following them. Louisiana and her Granny thus embark on a journey that tests Louisiana's trust, courage, and faith. This book was rather disappointing. Louisiana's Way Home is written from the perspective of the titular character (in fact, she's penning a letter), but the writing seemed erratic; she goes from waxing poetic on darkness and loneliness, to going on and on about her new fixation on bologna. Louisiana is definitely different, but it was hard getting into the novel when she flip-flops between being oddly introspective and childish. Perhaps that was DiCamillo's goal, but it didn't flow well. Overall, Louisiana's Way Home isn't a bad novel, but not to the standards I've come to expect from master storyteller DiCamillo. Most of the story was repetitious, with Louisiana saying the same thing over, and over, and over again. It felt like DiCamillo was offered a three-book deal and, after completing the first novel, decided to hastily get this one finished so she could work on something she really wanted to write.

"It is a dark day when you do not believe your granny. It is a day for tears. I started to cry." I would have to type the entire contents of this novel into this review in order to highlight the amount of cleverness expressed through this adorable, heartbreaking girl named Louisiana Elefante. It’s 3 a.m., and Louisiana is not sleeping like she should be. She’s fleeing a curse, involuntarily, with her granny from Central Florida about 6 hours north through to Georgia. Louisiana’s granny drags her all over a strange town, where she thrusts her onto strangers, some who greet her kindly-and some who do not. While Louisiana resents her granny for this, and vows repeatedly to never speak or be considerate to her granny ever again, she acts remarkably like the woman when she goes up against the local receptionist at the dentist’s office, the secretary at the church, and the owner of the motel. Every story DiCamillo tells seeps into the reader’s heart and wrenches it before the end. Louisiana’s Way Home is no different. In it, DiCamillo gives us a tale of mystery, suspicion, intrigue, and relief all from the mind of our very grown up little girl. Many children in poverty think like Louisiana, always wondering what only grown-ups should wonder and worrying about things only grown-ups should have to worry about. I look forward to recommending this to my local library and every middle-grade reader I see.

Absolutely adorable, although I expected no less from the sensational Kate DiCamillo. Louisiana Elefante is a character that middle grade readers will understand and fall in love with. Coincidentally, so will adult readers if my reaction is any indication. DiCamillo writes a character who is brave and kind, while still showing her youth. She writes Louisiana in a way that makes you proud of how strong she is standing, but also remember that she still need someone to care for her. I'm telling you, I fell hard for this girl. It was inevitable. I can't say too much more without giving something crucial away, so I'll wrap things up. This is one of those stories that toes the line of magic, but exists firmly and beautifully within our own world. It's a story made up of people are flawed,and alive. Any author that can write for young people and still manage to put real world problems in front of their readers has my heart. Kate DiCamillo continues to prove that she is more than capable of that very thing, and I love her for it.